Mechanism for controlling the tension of material drawn from a roll



DRAWN FROM A ROLL Nov.6,1934. J.R.TOMLWJ MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING THE TENSION Of MATERIAL Filed April 10, 1950 Patented Nov. 6, 1934 PATENT OFFICE MECHANISM TENSION A ROLL FOR CONTROLLING THE OF MATERIAL DRAWN FROM John R. Tomlin, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application April 10, 1930, Serial No. 443,164

24 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanism for controlling the tension of material that is being unwound from a roll.

It is an especial object of the invention to provide a device that will act to retard the rotation of the roll in such degree, that a desired tension on the material will be maintained constantly during the unwinding operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that will act to arrest the rotation of the roll when the unwinding operation is interrupted and thus prevent a slackness in the material that is being drawn from the roll.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a tension device for the purpose described that will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and efficient in its use.

with the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a mechanism for supporting a reel, the material on which is to be unwound, and showing the tension device that is 35 the subject of the invention partly in section;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrow, but showing the rotatable portion of the mechanism turned on its axis through an arc of 90 degrees; 4 Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section, showing a portion of the operating mechanism for the tension device, as it appears when viewed on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrow; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1, but showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, 11 indicates a base frame and 12 and 12', brackets secured to the base frame, that carry bearings 13 and 13' for a shaft 14, which forms a support for a reel 15, on which material that may be in the'form of a web, thread, wire, cable or other form that may be rolled, is wound. The shaft 14 'is provided with 55 collars 16 and 17 that act to prevent end play of the shaft, in the bearings. The reel 15 is prevented from rotating on the shaft 14 by a key 18. A washer 19 and a bolt 21 which is threaded into the shaft 14 serve to secure the reel 15 to the shaft.

A frame member 22 is secured to the brackets 12 and 12 and acts to support an annular member 23, which is secured at its upper portion to the frame member 22 and at its lower portion to the base 11. The annular member 23 is fitted to receive rings 24'and 24 formed of any material suitable to provide a friction or braking surface and with these friction rings secured to it, the assemblage forms a retarding member.

Similar friction ringsare shown at 25 and 26. The ring 25 is secured to the brake wheel 2'7, and forms a friction member that is fitted to rotate on the shaft 14. A sleeve portion 28 of the wheel 27 is fitted to receive the sleeve 29, that is arranged to slide on the key 31, which is fitted to the sleeve 28. The sleeve 29 carries a flange or brake ring 30, which is thus held against rotation with respect to the brake wheel 2'1 but can move axially with relation to it. The friction ring 26 is secured to the brake ring 30, forming a second so friction or brake engaging member. It will thus be understood that the spring acts to bias the brake wheel 2''! and the brake ring 30 toward each other and that contact is established between the friction rings 24 and 25, and also between the rings 24' and 26.

The shaft 14 is provided with fiat surfaces at 34 to form seats for the operating rollers 35,

which are fitted to rotate on the stud 36 secured to the shaft 14. Other operating rollers 3"! are also rotatably supported on the stud 36 and held in place by pins 38. Elongated openings 39 are cut in the sleeve portion 28 of the brake wheel, as shown in" Figure 3, the axis of the openings being diagonally disposed with relation to the axis of the sleeve, and similar openings 41 are formed in the sleeve portion 29 of the brake ring 30. It will be noted however that the openings 41, are oppositely disposed with relation to the openings 39. n

In operation, when the reel carrying the roll of material is not being turned, the friction members on the shaft will be pressed against the retarding member. When the material is pulled to withdraw it from the roll, the shaft 14 is turned, carrying with it the operating rollers 35 and 37. These operating members then act on the sides of the openings 39 and 41 in the sleeves of the rotating friction members, and tend to separate them from the retarding mem- Y permitted to turn and allow Q fort applied to the roll,

the turning effort is decreased.

ber. The pressure thus being relieved, the rotating friction members and the shaft 14 are the material to unwind from the reel.

Should the pull on the material be lessened, any tendency of the roll to run ahead and form a slaclmess in the material is immediately checked by';,the application of additional pressure to thefriction surfaces, for it will be seen that a continuous turning eifort must be applied to the reel in order to keep the friction surfaces from being pressed together with suflicient forc to stop the rotation of the reel. I

By turning the adjusting nut 33 to increase or decrease the tension of the spring 34, more or less pressure may be applied to the friction surfaces, and a corresponding change made in the tension maintained on the material.

When a braking device of conventional form is used to control the rotation of an unwinding roll, unless the brake is released manually when the roll is started from rest, the static friction will necessitate an abnormal pull. on the material, but with applicant's device, when the roll starts to turn, the brake is simultaneously relieved, thus preventing stress in the material.

.It will be understood that the preferred arrangement herein'described, provides a balanced action in which there is no end thrust on the shaft 14, due to the braking pressure. Similar tension control can'be obtained however, by omitting the brake wheel '27 and using only the friction surfaces 24' and 26. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 4, wherein the brake ring and the collar the shaft 14'.

It will also be understood that the roll or reel may bemounted on supports separate from the 33 both operate directly on tension device and connected to the shaft 14 by a chain or any suitable means, or the arrangement may be varied in such manner that the parts that are shown herein arranged to rotate, may remain fixed, and the retarding member shown herein as stationary, would then be arranged to rotate.

What I claim is:

1. In a device for controlling the rotation of an unwinding roll, a support for the roll, separate rotatable members limitedly movable relative to each other, one of said members being connected to the support, the extent of said relative movement by the separate rotatable members being controlled by the degree of turning efand means governed by the relative movement by the separate rotatable members, that act to retard their rotation as 2. In a device for controlling the rotation of an unwinding roll, separate rotatable members movable relative to each other, yielding means for normally exerting a tension to constrain the said rotatable members in pre-determined relation to each other and means actuated by the relative movement by the separate members for retarding'the rotation of the separate rotatable 'members when said members are moved relative to each other, responsive to the tension exerted by the said yielding means.

3. In a device for controlling the rotation of an unwinding roll, separate rotatable members movable with relation to each other, yielding means for normally constraining the separate rotatable members in pre-determined relation to each other, a stationary member, means actuated by the relative movement by the separate rotatable meman unwinding roll, an

the separate rotatable members for cooperating;

with the stationary member, and yielding means for normally constraining the separate rotatable members in such relation to each other as to move the means which cooperate with the stationary member into engagement with the stationary member, said means disengaging the stationary member when the separate rotatable members are moved relative to each other against the tension of yielding means, thereby permitting a relatively free rotation of the said rotatable members.

5. In a device for controlling the rotation of an unwinding roll. a shaft rotatable with the roll, a rotatable friction member supported on the shaft, a friction member held against rotation, a spring acting to press the friction members together, means on the shaft adapted to turn the rotatable friction member and simultaneously move it away from the friction member that is held against rotation, when the roll is being unwound.

6. In a device" for controlling the rotation of an unwinding roll, a shaft rotatable with the roll, a rotatable friction member on the shaft, a friction member held against rotation, a spring acting to press the friction members together, means for adjusting the pressure of the spring, and means on the shaft adapted to rotate the rotatable friction member and simultaneously move it away from the friction member that is held against rotation, when the roll is being unwound.

7. In a device for controlling the rotation of an unwinding roll, an operating member rotated by the roll, a rotatable brake engaging member in engagement with the operating member and lirnitedly rotatable with'respect thereto, a retarding member, means providing pressure tending to hold the rotatable member into engagement with the retarding member, and means whereby the pressure is reduced when the operating member is rotated by unwinding the roll.

8. In a device for controlling the rotation of an unwinding roll, a friction member rotatable by the roll, a retarding member prevented from rotating with the roll, yielding means tending to move the friction member into engagement with the retarding member and an operating member tending to move the friction member in opposition to the yielding means. 1

9. In a device for controlling the rotation of operating member, a retarding member, two rotatable friction members limitably rotatable with respect to the operating member and adapted to engage the retarding member, and means to bias the friction members to press against the retarding member; rotation of said operating member with respect to the friction members in one direction, being arranged to counteract said bias and reduce the pressure of the rotatable friction members against the retarding member.

10. In a device for controlling the rotation of an unwinding roll, afirst friction member rotatable by the roll, a second friction member held against rotation, an operating member connected to the roll, a spring tending to move the first friction'member relative to the operating member and into braking engagement with the second friction member, means to vary the pressure exerted by the spring, and means to move the first friction member relative to the operating member and lessen the braking engagement when the roll ls'turned.

11. In a device for controlling the rotation of an unwinding rol a shaft rotated by the roll, a first friction member rotatable on the shaft, a cam on the first friction member, a'second friction member held against rotation, a spring tending to move the first friction member longitudinally of the shaft to press it into braking engagement with the second friction member, and a roller on the shaft adapted to engage the cam and counteract the pressure of the spring when the roll is rotated.

- 12. In a device for controlling the rotation of an unwinding roll, a shaft rotated by the roll, a first friction member rotatable on the shaft, a cam on the first friction member, a second friction member held against rotation. a spring tending to move the first friction member longitudinally of the shaft to press it into braking engagement with the second friction membenmeans adjust the tension of the spring to vary the braking pressure, and a roller on the shaft adapted to engage the cam and counteract the pressure of the spring when the roll is rotated.

13. In a device for controlling the rotation of an unwinding roll, a shaft rotated by the roll, a plurality of rotatable friction members movable on the shaft, cams on the rotatable friction members, a fixed friction member held against the spring when the roll is rotation, a spring tending to press the rotatable friction members into braking engagement with the fixed friction member, means to adjust the tension of the spring to vary the braking pressure, and a roller on the shaft adapted to en gage the cams and counteract the pressure of rotated. r

14. In a device for controlling the tension of material being drawn from a roll, a brake operably connected with the roll and including cooperable brake components, means normally biasingcertain of the brake components towards braking position to thereby retard the rotation of the roll, and means operable by the rotation of the roll for actuating the biased brake components towards brake-releasing position against the influence of the biasing means to permit the rotation of the roll.

15. In a device for controlling the rotation of a rotatable member, means for rotating said member, a brake operably connected with the rotatable member and including cooperable brake com-. ponents, means normally biasing certain of the brake components towards braking position to thereby retard the rotation of the rotatable member, and means operable by the rotation of-the rotatable member for actuating the biased brake components towards brake-releasing position against the influence of the biasing means to permit the rotation of the rotatable member.

16. In a device for controlling the tension of material being drawn from a roll, a brake operably connected with the roll and including a stationary brake component and a rotatable brake component, means for normally biasing one of the brake components toward operable engagement with the other to thereby retard the rotation of the roll, and means operable by the rotation of the roll for actuating the biased brake component against the influence of the biasing means to operably separate the brake components to permit the rotation of the roll.

17. In a device for controlling the rotation of a rotatable member, means for rotating said member, a brake operably connected with the rotatable member and including a stationary brake component and a rotary brake .component, means for normally biasing one of the brake components towards operable engagement with the other to thereby retard the rotation of the roll, and means operable by the rotation of the rollfor actuating the. biased brake component against the influence of the biasing means to operably separate the brake components to permit the rotation of the rotatable member.

18. In adevice for controlling the tension of material being drawn from a roll, a brake including a rotatable friction member, a coacting friction member held against rotation, one of the friction members being operably other friction tation of the roll, and means operable by the rotation of the roll for actuating the biased friction member against the influence of the biasing means to operably separate the friction members to permit the rotation of the roll.

19. In a devicefor controlling the rotation of a rotatable element, means for rotating said element, a brake including a rotatable friction member, a coacting friction member held against rotation, one of the friction members being operably connected with the rotatable element, means for normally biasing one friction member towards braking engagement with the other friction member to thereby retard the rotation of the rotatable element, and means operable by the rotation of the rotatable element for actuating the biased friction member against the influence of the biasing means to operably separate the friction member to permit the rotation of the rotatable element.

20. In a device for controlling the tension of material being drawn from a roll, a brake including a"rotatable friction member operably connected with the roll, a coacting friction member held against rotation, means fornormally biasing one friction member toward braking engagement with the other friction member to thereby retard the rotation of the roll, and means operable by the rotation of the roll for actuating the biased friction member against the influence of the biasing means to operably'separate the friction members to permit the rotation of the roll.

21. In a device for controlling the rotation of a rotatable element, means for rotating said element, a brake including a rotatable friction memmember towards braking engagement with the other friction member to thereby retard the rotation of the rotatable element, and means operable by the rotation of the rotatable element for actuating the biased friction member against the influence of the biasing means to operably separate the friction members to permit the rotation of the rotatable element.

22. In a device for controlling the tension of material being drawn from a roll, a rotatable support for the roll, a brake operably connected to the roll support and including cooperable brake components, means normally biasing certain of the brake components towards braking position to thereby retard the rotation of the roll, and means supported by the roll support and operably engaging the biased brake component to actuate the biased brake component to brake-releasing position against the influence oi the biasing means to permit the rotation of the roll.

23. In a device for controlling the tension of material being drawn from a roll, a rotatable support for the roll, a brake operably connected with the roll support and including a rotatable brake component, a coacting brake component held against rotation, means for normally biasing one brake component towards braking engagement with the other brake component to thereby retard the rotation of the roll, and means supported by the roll support and operably engaging the biased brake component to actuate the biased brake position against rmit the component to brake-releasing the influence of the biasing means to pe rotation of the roll.

24. In a device for controlling the tension of material being drawn from a roll, a rotatable support for the roll, a brake operably connected with the roll support and including a rotatable friction member, a coacting Iriction member held against rotation, means for normally biasing one friction member towards braking engagement with the other friction member to thereby retard the rotation of the roll, and means carried by the roll support and operably engaging the biased friction member to actuate the biased friction member to brake-releasing position against the influence of the biasing means to permit the rotation of the roll.

JOHN R. TOMIJIN. 

